New Ulm weekly review., 1887-03-23
Gen. Sheridan Outwitted.

Gen. Sheridan OutWitted.
A very amusing story about &c,
Sheridan has just been told me that
is well worth reproducing. It seems
that some artist about three or four.
years ago painted a portrait of Gen.
Sheridan that proved a dismal fail.
ure but nevertheless was hung in.
the Generals private Office and there
continued to hang until it became so
familiar as to cease to cause COM
ment. Finally after the portrait had
been hanging there for two or three
years, a request came from G.. a. r.
post in Ohio for 9 picture of the hero
OF Winchester with which to adorn
the walls OF their rooms The Gener.
al was neditating as to how he could
fill this request, when his eye lit upon
the caricature of himself that hung
upon the wall.
4'The very thing!" sprang into his
mind, and as it is we'll known with
him to think is to act, he straightway
tapped his bell and bade his orderly
take down the picture and box It
ready for shipment. That night at
dinner he informed Mrs. Sheridan of
the request from the Ohio post and
the manner in which he intended com
plying with it.
''Oh, Philip" said Mrs. Sheridan,
mot that horrible thing that has
been hanging on your wall for the
past year or so?"
tsFTha very san,o ,, roe,o,doa ~,
General.
''But, Philip. if you send this picture
out it will be placed prominently on
the wall and labelled as a present
from you, and that awful daub will
go down to posterity as a likeness of
yourself and some future day will
turn up. to the unspeakable horror of
your children and friends, as a perfect
likeness of how you looked when in
your prime
Then followed a stormy scene, Mrs.
Sheridan arguing that the picture
should not be sent, and the General
taking the side that he must, in some
way. comply with the request, and, as
he had nothing else to send, this pict-
ure should go. The argument wax
ed hotter and hotter, until finally
Gen. Sheridan got up and marched
to the door, and having reached that
strategic point, turned and said:
Mrs. Sheridan that picture shall
go. Now let neither Of us ever men
tion its existence again"
Having said this he left the room
before Mrs. Sheridan had time to say
word in reply.
But he little knew his wife's pluck;
for early next morning, before any one
was up, she went down to his Office
and surprised the orderly in the verv
act of boxing the picture.
"1s there any paint or varnish here
that will stick and not wash Off" she
sweetly asked.
"Yes, madame" answered the un.
suspecting soldier
Bring it to me, please" said Mrs.
Sheridan.
The orderly fetched some black
paint from the outer Office and gave it
to Mrs. Sheridan. Then she, deliber-
ately turning the unlucky painting,
over upon its back, brushed every re-
semblance of a picture from off the
canvas, only leaving dim vista OF
black paint.
"oh, do stay here until the
general comes" was all the
wretched orderly could gasp as he
saw this surprising proceeding. But
he had no need of this request, for
hardly were the words out of his
mouth before Sheridan's light step
was heard in the outer Office, and in
an instant his stout figure darkened
the door. His quick eye in a second
took in the state of affairs, and turn
ing red in the face, hesaid:
''Mrs. Sheridan, what does this
pro-
"stop. Philip" said she; 'last night
you made the request that neither of
us should ever mention this again."
pointing to what remained of the
picture. 'Do not you be the first to
break this request" and without an
other word she swept out OF the office,
leaving Little Phil absolutely rooted
to the floor.
1t is, perhaps, needless to, tell that
that picture has been a dead letter in
the Sheridan household fromthat day
to this, and bids fair to remain so.-
Pittsburg Times.
Curious Epitaphs.